Review by Divergent_2020 -- Adrift by Charlie Sheldon
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Review by Divergent_2020 -- Adrift by Charlie Sheldon
The Seattle Express catches fire, so Captain Steve Procida took the tough decision of vacating it. The crew split into two teams helmed by Steve and William and board two lifeboats to escape the fire. Once in the ocean, Steve tries to communicate with the other lifeboat but they couldn't establish any contact. They now have to survive the chilling December weather, make it safely to the nearest land 100 miles away, with a ration of only four days while the captain has no idea if the rest of the 11 members made it. When word spread that the Buckhorn Corporation’s massive ship has been abandoned, Warhorse - a small ancient ship, run by Larry and Louise, enters the scene to tug the ship and claim the money.
Adrift by Charlie Sheldon is the second book in the Strong Heart series. While Strong Heart revolved around Tom and his granddaughter Sarah, major parts of Adrift revolve around the father-daughter duo - William and Myra. Some characters are new in Adrift, some are repeated from Strong Heart, but you can follow the story even if you haven’t read the previous book.
Sailors adrift, a small rival company trying to oust a giant corporation, the powerful company worrying only about the goods lost, a marriage turning sour, a daughter praying for her father to return, and a son yearning to stay with his father, this story is cleverly built up. The story is equal parts endearing and thrilling.
What I liked the most is - that despite so many characters in the book, it did not get confusing and I liked plenty of them. Myra’s family, for instance, is very supportive. The way they stayed vigil when they heard nothing about William, was the beacon of hope and emotional support Myra needed. Sharing Steve’s personal life gave more depth to his character. He turned from just a Captain worried about what the future held for him to a doting father trying to make ends meet. There’s also Sarah - a teenager whose courage and confidence is admirable. Pete and his son Sam’s relationship - is beautifully portrayed. I had fun observing that Myra is the only character that's written in the first person although she's introduced to us much later. All the other characters are written in the third person. Whether there is more to it or not, it will be interesting to find out in the upcoming books.
Since there are a lot of characters, it’s only natural that there are multiple subplots. At one point, what began as a subplot of the father-daughter duo, got so engaging that whenever stories of other characters were being told, I got a little impatient. But more importantly, what Adrift lacked was clarity. There were lots of loose ends and unanswered questions that let it down.
Despite its shortcomings, I would rate it 3 out of 4 stars because it has a great story. Adrift has mild profanity, one or two errors here and there but it did not distract me at all. I will recommend it to those who like to read voyages. Sheldon knows a lot about the ocean, and it shows. The knowledge of ships, waves, and the ocean are even used to bring a thrilling twist in the story. At no place will you question its legitimacy as he uses the correct terminologies. The survival, the food search, and the hunting for an indefinite time kept me on my toes. I couldn't put the book down and was constantly trying to keep track of all the characters. Even if you don’t read voyages, the subplots will keep you entertained. This is an unexpected trip you shouldn't miss out on!
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Adrift
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